Santee Smith fuses indigenous and contemporary dance in her performance NeoIndigenA, which shows at the Port Theatre on Friday (Feb. 3).
Smith, founding artistic director of Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, explores relationships between living entities and elements and sacred portal: Skyworld, Earthworld and Underworld, according to Kaha:wi Dance’s website. Smith has been recognized for her artistic accomplishments and has received the Dora Mavor Moore award for Outstanding Female Performance and Outstanding Production and a Gemini Award for Best performance in a Performing Arts Program or Series for her piece Here on Earth.
The show also features Juno nominated cello player Cris Derksen. Derksen is an indigenous cellist and composer. She weaves her classical training, aboriginal ancestry and contemporary influences into her music. Derksen released her debut album, The Cusp, in 2010. The album was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award and won a Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for Instrumental Album of the Year in 2011.
She released The Orchestral Powwow Project in 2015.
Tickets are $32, $28 for members or $15 for students available at 250-754-8550 or www.porttheatre.com.
